100 Museums Planned by 2010 in Shenyang

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<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="96%" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td class="nava3" valign="top"><p>SHENYANG: The local culture bureau announced recently that it would launch an extensive museum-building drive next year to commemorate Shenyang's history, industry and culture. </p><p>Zhang Ying, deputy chief of the Shenyang culture bureau, said the bureau's list included an industrial museum, a construction museum and a prisoner-of-war (POW) camp. </p><p>"Our goal is to build close to 100 museums to represent what makes this area special by the end of 2010," said Zhang. </p><p>Local officials have also promised to invest more to protect sites relevant to the China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. </p><p>Shenyang boasts a variety of sites of cultural and historical interest. Its origins reach back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the last dynasty to rule China. It has more than 20 museums, the most important of which is the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which received World Heritage status in 2004. </p><p>Liu Zhenchao, an official at the Shenyang Cultural and Historic Research Institution, lauded the government's efforts to protect the city's cultural heritage. </p><p>"These museums will not only help us display our cultural wealth, but also increase our research potential," said Liu. "Museums will bring together the city's culture and history. They have immediate and far-reaching significance." </p><p>In a harbinger of things to come, Shenyang opened a finance-themed museum earlier this month to demonstrate its long history as a Far Eastern financial hub. </p><p>olina Yaskina, a visiting scholar from Russia at Liaoning University, said building museums would help China refine the way it presents its culture. </p><p>"I have been many countries that have long histories, such as Italy and South Korea. I can easily find evidence of their culture in museums. But here in China, it is very hard," said Yaskina. </p><p>"Cultural recognition is vital for all great nations," she said. </p><p>Xu Jianmin, spokesman of Shenyang municipal government, echoed the visiting scholar's comments. </p><p>Xu told China Daily that the local government was looking for an international design company to help polish the city's image. </p><p><br/>(China Daily ) </p></td></tr></tbody></table>